Stonees Rock! Naturally Challenging Building Blocks Stonees $19.95 at Amazon.com

Children love rocks — collecting beautiful ones, plopping them in water, and making glorious piles of them. But building structures with them? It’s not often that you find a collection of small, naturally-shaped rocks and stones that can truly build things. Stonees natural building blocks are a new product made from real rocks crushed with natural pigments, that are subtly shaped so children (and adults), with practice, can build creative things with them. They are all individually shaped to enable them to build upon each other in some way, but they are still rocks, so tumble they will, especially if they aren’t balanced properly. Building with Stonees takes a certain level of motor skill development — and they’re also smallish and hard (they’re rocks!) — so they’re not recommended for children under 3, and probably best for kids 5 and over. They also require patience and discipline, as it takes a while to figure out how Stonees best fit together, and a fair amount of practice balancing them. Once your grandchild has that down, the creative options are endless. I found that sitting down and working with my son (age 5), introducing him to the concept and testing various configurations together, helped avoid any possible frustration and gave him a great basis to work from. After that, he was off and running, creating walls to complement his action figure set-ups, towers, etc. We recommend you doing the same with your grandchild. Stonees are naturally fun and challenging, and can be used inside or out.

What an incredible way to get kids (ages 7-10) to challenge themselves both physically and mentally! We’re not surprised that Wild Planet’s game Hyper Dash has won several awards, including an iParenting “outstanding product” award. Kids set up five different colored targets wherever they want (as far apart as they want), inside or outside. Then they hold an electronic “tagger” that calls out which targets you need to hit, while also playing energizing music to encourage them to go as fast as they can through their “course.” There are four different skill levels, with the first calling out certain colored targets to be tagged, up to level four where they need to solve an addition or subtraction problem in order to know how many targets to hit. There are also other play modes, such as “micro dash,” a memory game, and multi-player mode, promoting teamwork — although the game is equally as fun being played solo or head-to-head. Loads of fast-paced fun!

Alex Monkey Balance Board is Fun Inside or Out Alex Monkey Balance Board $17.45 at Amazon.com

This Alex Monkey Balance Board is a great “active” toy for girls and boys that encourages physical activity either inside or out. It builds leg strength and balancing skills, and is just the right size for little feet (ages 3-6). The wooden board is solid and sturdy with no weight limit, and is adorned with an adorable monkey. Perfect activity for a rainy day, and equally as fun outside.

Ready For Takeoff with Highlights Paper Planes That Soar book kit Highlights Paper Planes That Soar Book $14.98 at Highlights Catalogue

Everything your grandchild needs to build 17 different full-proof paper airplanes is in this Highlights Paper Planes That Soar book kit. 96 sheet of paper are patterned and “flight-ready,” and the designs are kid-tested with plenty of flight hours clocked. The book gives step-by-step instructions and diagrams to guide your grandchild through the process. Prepare for takeoff!

Protection from the Elements: Waterproof iPod Case Waterproof Case for 2nd Generation iPod Nano $8.50 at Amazon.com

Remember making sure your kids and grandkids were dressed appropriately for all kinds of weather? Now you can still offer that same protection — for their iPods. Chances are their iPod is their prized possession, and many of you may have purchased it for them. We bet you’ve already vowed not to buy another if it gets damaged… so why not protect it with this waterproof iPod case. In addition to protection from water damage, it also protects the delicate equipment from falls, dust, dirt and sand. The belt clip helps manage headphone wires.

Visits to the Blackboard Can Be Fun with Lap-Sized Kids Chalkboard Chalkboard Collection $29.95 at Magic Cabin

One reason we like this kids chalkboard is because it’s lap-sized, so kids can draw on their lap or on a table, as they would naturally color or write. And mom & dad don’t need to clear space for a large easel-style board, or commit to a dedicated wall-unit. We also love the vibrantly colored chalk that comes with the collection, as opposed to typical pastels. The chalk also comes in different sizes — chunky duo-color, which is good for either indoor or outdoor use, and slimmer sticks for fine detailing. The eraser is made from traditional wool felt, and wipes the board clean. You can buy the chalk separately from the board and eraser, or all together as a collection (shown here).

No Mistakin’ This Mitt: Personalized Baseball Glove Personalized Baseball Glove $38.95 at PersonalizationMall.com

Whether you’ve got grandchildren who are determined to play in the major leagues, or who enjoy a game of catch in the backyard, why not surprise them with this colorful personalized baseball glove. You can choose from violet, electric blue or fire red gloves, and then pick from 8 different colors of thread to embroider their name or the name of their team on the wrist strap. The baseball mitt is crafted from full-grain soft and flexible leather, and is extremely durable. We’ve linked to the 10″ size, for 4-6 year-olds. If you need the 11″ or 12″ size (for 7-9 or 10-12 yr. olds), simply click on the same link, then search for the right size. Note: all of these gloves are made for right-handed throwers.

Safe Haven Soccer with Little Tikes Soccer Set Little Tikes Soccer Set $34.99 at Amazon.com

Soccer is all the rage, and boys and girls are being introduced to the sport at an ever earlier age. This durable Little Tikes Soccer set includes a small (4 x 2.5 ft) net, a kid-size soccer ball and pump, and six practice cones to mark off a playing area in the back yard. It’s portable so it’s also easily carried to grandma’s house or a local playing field. Even though the set is intended for little kids, we’ve seen some big ones having fun with it since it’s challenging to get the ball into the small net from a distance. This is a great gift that will get little kids running and big kids (moms and dads) having fun, too.

Brio Toddler Wobbler Push Toy Wagon: Safe Toddling, Safe Transport Brio Toddler Wobbler $39.99 at Amazon.com

When your grandchildren begin “cruising” the couch and coffee table, then they’re ready for some support wheels. This little Toddler Wobbler push toy wagon by Brio is wonderful for toddler boys and girls who are “toddling.” It’s perfectly sized and stabilized for this age — around 1 year, give or take a few months — through 3 years. Because it’s a “pushcart,” it allows them to have endless fun transporting their favorite toys and animals around the house, outside, etc. The Toddler Wobbler shown here is bright red and yellow wood, and it also comes in a new “black” color. It features 4-inch rubber wheels and an arch-shaped metal handle that rises 19″ off the floor. It’s a great way to help the little ones move around.

Luxury Ride for Kids: Radio Flyer Ultimate Family Wagon Radio Flyer Ultimate Family Wagon $149.63 at Amazon.com

Little red wagons sure have come a long way! This Radio Flyer Ultimate Family Wagon has all the bells and whistles — except an insurance policy! A perfect gift for on-the-go kids (and parents!). You can haul all kinds of gear, and kids can ride in style, with “5-way flip and fold seats,” safety belts, tray table, cup holders for kids (and parents), and a removable canopy for shade. Easy steering and front axle for no tip turning. Seats fold down entirely to make a traditional flatbed wagon. Flip one or both seats over and they turn into a covered storage area. A great way to get around town — or around the neighborhood!